T James Sprott OBE 10 Combes Road
MSc PhD FNZIC Remuera
Consulting Chemist Auckland 1005
Forensic Scientist New Zealand

Phone & fax: 64-9-5231150

3 April 2003


MEDIA RELEASE

Scientist warns parents about new research into bedding sheepskins:
Generation of highly toxic gas from sheepskins proved

New Zealand scientist Dr Jim Sprott OBE is warning parents and
babycare advisers in Britain about information contained in new
research which proves the generation of highly toxic gas from bedding
sheepskins.

The research(1) co-authored by Dr Bill Cullen and others at the
Chemistry Department of the University of British Columbia, is
scheduled for publication in a research journal later this year.

Dr Cullen's team has proved indisputably that the highly toxic gas
trimethylarsine
(derived from arsenic) can be generated from sheepskin used as baby
bedding.
However, using data regarding the effects of trimethylarsine when
inhaled by mice,
the researchers have stated that the amount of this gas generated
from sheepskins
would be unlikely to result in the death of babies.

"The researchers' comparison between babies and mice is totally
invalid," said Dr
Sprott. "It is well known that babies can ingest trimethylarsine not
only by
breathing the gas in, but also by absorbing it through their skin.
Gas generated
from a baby's bedding can readily be trapped around the baby's skin
by clothing and
bedding – and a baby's skin is immature and permeable to gases,
including
trimethylarsine. In addition, bedding often contains residues of
laundry
detergents, and traces of these chemicals on a baby's skin greatly
increases the
rate at which gas passes through the skin. So the researchers'
reference to mice is
totally invalid."

Trimethylarsine is a highly toxic "nerve" gas. It is an
anticholinesterase agent,
and a minute dose can result in cessation of heart and lung
functions, thereby
causing death.

"Dr Cullen's proof that bedding sheepskin can generate one of the
most toxic gases
known is crucial information for parents," said Dr Sprott. "It is
very important
for parents to be warned against using sheepskins as infant bedding."

Dr Sprott is issuing parallel media releases to Governments,
researchers, babycare
organisations and the media in the USA, Canada, Britain, Europe,
Australia and New
Zealand.

"I am not prepared to stand by and permit babies – particularly in
the `sheepskin
rich' countries of Britain, Australia and New Zealand – to be put at
risk because a
group of researchers in Canada publish a conclusion about sheepskins
which is based
on an invalid comparison between babies and mice," said Dr Sprott.

Since late 1994 Dr Sprott has publicised a mattress-wrapping protocol
for cot death prevention throughout New Zealand and in other
countries, including Britain. This protocol, which covers both
mattresses and bedding, specifically warns parents against using
sheepskins as baby bedding (based on Dr Sprott's research into
concentrations of phosphorus, arsenic and antimony in sheepskins).

There has been no reported cot death among the very large number of
babies who have slept on mattresses wrapped in accordance with Dr
Sprott's mattress-wrapping protocol. In New Zealand, since the
mattress-wrapping campaign commenced the cot death rate has fallen by
48%(2), and the use of sheepskins as baby bedding has declined
significantly in that country.(3)

Footnotes:

1. "Arsenic methylation by microorganisms isolated from sheepskin
bedding materials"
Authors: Corinne Lehr, Elena Polishchuk, Marie-Chantal Delisle,
Catherine Franz,
Bill Cullen

2. From 2.1 deaths per 1000 live births in 1994 to 1.1/1000 in 2000
(provisional)

3. Ford et al, "Changes to Infant Sleep Practices in Canterbury", New
Zealand
Medical Journal, January 2000


[END]